Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-01-24
LETTER FROM PARIS.
FIRST MEETING BETWEEN WALES
AND GAMsETTA.
An Interesting Episode In Bistory-A
Story Told at u Reception Given by
Mrs. Faynani, Widow of the Eminent
Portrait Painter.
Especial CorreSpondencel

hrs. Nbho VI 'hN
Portrait Painter.
Especial CorrrspOndenccl
PARIS, Dec. 3l.-Mrs. Fagnani widow OF
the well known Fabian American portrait
painter, gave reception few days ago in
her artistic home in the Place NendOme to
the president of the New York Nineteenth |
Century club and Mrs Courtlandt Palmer. |
Among the many guests who thronged the .
drawing room was Mrs Emily Crawford, tbs
Paris correspondent OF The London Daily /
News and of one OF the leading New York |
dailies Mrs Crawford is a most remarkable
woman, even in this city, which has always
been 50 famous for its clever queens Of III
tellect" Her head is a perfect storehouse OF
information | often wonder where she gets
and how she keeps all the Thousand and one
facts great and small, that she always has at
the point of her pen and tongue. But Mrs.
Crawford has a prudigIous memory. she
possesses Jefferson's faculty FOR drawing peo-
pie out and learning from them all they have
to teach. and then she can read with the ra
pidity OF Macaulay who used to run his eye
over the pages of n book or the columns OF
newspaper and seize out all that was good Ia
them Ms. Crawford also shines IN conNer-
sation, and her strong Irish accent and bril-
liant imagination led Gambetta to pronounce
her the Nine de Stael of the Nineteenth
century. SO Mrs Crawford was surrounded
by many listeners the other evening ot Mrs
Fagnani's reception, who were repaid Tor
their attention by hearing such interesting
bits of unpublished history as the following:
This is the way the first meeting was
brought abou; Irtwcrn the Prince OF Wales
and Gambetta," began Mrs. Crawford. in
the winter of ISIS, when the Paris worlds
exhibition was being prepared, Sir Gunllhe-
Owen, who represented England at Paris, a.
he had two years before Mt the Philadeiphla
Centennial came TO me one day and com
planned Of the rather unfriendly spirit shown
toward England 10y Senator krantz, who was
the director general of the exhibition then
organizing Sir Philip asked me II l would
not Use my influence with Gambetta, who
was even then the most powerful man IN the
republic and induce him to bring such pres
sure to lear on Krantz that the English ex-
hibitors would obtain fair play. When Sir
| Philip had told his story | replied as
| follows: i am not surprised that French
/ republicans treat You and England with
! coldness, for EngliShmen at home always
side with the Mcmahon party, which wishes
! no good to the republic Now, if the Prince
| OF Wales, who is in Paris at present, will
| show Gambetta some attention, Will agree
TO do what can to accomplish what you ask.
| After some further argument, Sir Phnp
promised to lay the matter before the prince,
! and the next day he returned tn me and said
that his royal highness was quite ready to
make the acquaintance of the republican
leader, providing the meeting could take
lata, int b.asnuSa ItplC-
1 matte negotiations then in train. | agreed,
saw Gambetta, told him of Sir Philips com
pIaint, and Immediately the English section
of the exhibition met with all the consldera'
ton that it could desire.
MANY weeks passed. and heard nothing
of the promised attentions OF the royal prince
10 the democratic tribune So one day re-
minded Sir Philip of our previous converse
ton, aud it Immediately arranged that
the prince should invite Gambetta to break
fast and was requested to make known the
fact 10 the future guest. I therefore called
on Gambetta, and when | hai given him my
message he threw himself back with intens,
assonishment and exclaimed: Is it possible
sud then assuming all attitude that wa:
l.fsbitual with him-crossing one leg undel
him and looking over the back of his chair
| Ot COlllnutu. " bdN "a bloN tAiH VIII ~ ~
tbe reactionary party And now put in
: my journalistic duties taking possession o
me, since brought about the sending Of thi
invitation, may | ask favorf Certainly,
replied Gambetta Well / resumed, :
, should like to know all that Is said during ti
, meal. will show you Whist intend sendia.
to The Daily News, and you may modify IN,
report in any wav you please. Agreed
a l,S5
I ment be took a portrait of himself which tn
French workmen of Strasbourg had just pre-
sented to him, and said, as he handed it 10 me
Please accept this little gift have thi
: portrait now hanging on my walls at home
and on the back Of it have written out thi
episode which | am now relating; so tha
whatever becomes of il after my death,
will always be regarded as an interesting his
> torical relic.
= Several days passed and l heard nothin
! of the breakfast. began TO fear that it ha
fallen through. | feared that wind of it ha
:, got to the British legation, and thence 10 tn
Elysee palace, and that the prince had bee
= restrained by reasons of state from maxim
, this advance toward the republican party at
time when the French republic was i'll tn
= power of moparchists, and many people b,
e lieved that McMahons successor would De
e king or emperor. Sunday evening ot tn
n week i'll which l hal seen Galnbetta l wa
h glancing over the papers IN restaurant o
4 the Boulevard when heard The newSboN
e crying in the streets: breakfast of the Primo
Il Of Wales to Gamoetta! Ana exclaimed
e myself: is this the way Gambetta keeps b
wordF / WAS thunderStruck. Hastily tai
ing cab, drove to the English embass,
and caIIsd for Lord LYONS private secretar,
Who | knew was to be of the party. and